Northern Kentucky resident Martha Leach to play in U.S. Senior Women's Open

Martha Leach plays her third shot on the first hole during the second round at the 2017 Women's State Team at The Club at Las Campanas in Santa Fe, N.M. on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)(Photo: Steven Gibbons, USGA Museum)

HEBRON – Martha Leach doesn’t often compete in golf tournaments close to home. The 56-year-old real estate agent jokes that selling houses makes it tough to negotiate the closing deals of a golf course.

“I do not play in anything locally,” she said. “If I played locally, I would be working right before I teed off. One time I did that and signed an incorrect scorecard.”

Leach will be trading in Northern Kentucky houses for the high-rent greens in Chicago next week, when she competes in the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open tournament. The 72-hole tournament is July 12-15 at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Ill.

The Hebron resident earned her spot by shooting a 71 June 18 at Scioto Country Club in Ohio.

“The opportunity to play in every USGA event is exciting,” she said. “To be able to play in the inaugural US Senior Open is a very surreal experience.”

“I was so nervous,” she said on the USGA web site. “These other players had famous presenters, like (television producer) Terry Jastrow for Peter Allis, and I was just Hollis’ sister. After it was over I said to a relative, ‘Did you see all of those other presenters?’

Leach is no stranger to USGA events as she has competed in 29 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateurs, winning the title in 2009, and has competed in 18 other U.S. Women's Amateurs.

Competing against her sister will be a new challenge. They hope each other do well.

“We laugh about it,” Leach said. “Being paired together would be awful. I would be watching her and she would be watching me. If we play well enough to get into the last two days, it would be fun but we hope we’re not playing together.”

Leach travels to four or five major tournaments a year. Her husband, John, is the director of golf at Traditions Golf Club in Hebron. He has taught PGA Tour pros.

Leach is looking to have fun in Chicago and do as well as she can.

“My expectations are low since I don’t compete as much but I’m trying to have productive practice before I go next week,” she said. “I’ve played with a lot of these women in college but a lot of them have had success on the tour. I’m excited to be playing and excited to be there. It’s a tough club to get on and to play it for five days will be a treat.”

Leach and Stacy, 64, are two of 10 children who grew up together in Savannah, Ga. Stacy is the fourth-oldest of the clan and Leach, eighth.

Leach said growing up in that type of household made them both very competitive.

“We’re very competitive in everything,” Leach said. “She had her successes earlier and mine came later. It’s special that we’re both USGA champions and playing in the U.S. Senior Open. Golf has always been a part of my life. We grew up with it. My parents played. Most of my siblings played. It helped me go to college free.”

Leach spent her life in the south before moving to Northern Kentucky 22 years ago when John went to Traditions.

“It was quite of a shock,” she said. “We moved here from Austin, Texas. Winters are not the same in the south. I was shocked. We knew it would be cold but not how cold it would be. In Georgia, it could be 30 degrees one day but 60 degrees the next five days.”